Wednesday, May 8, 2013

How to perform a cleansing ceremony with the use of burning sage, also known as 'smudging'.

A smudge stick is a dried and bundled plant. One can also use loose
leaves in smudging, but before we get to the particulars of such a
ceremony it will help to have an understanding of the origins of this
Sacred practice and how it will cleanse, heal, and consecrate an energy field, or thing, or space.

The Origins and History of Smudging

People commonly credit smudging as being a Native American practice,
but the use of rising smoke in Spiritual Rituals has been practiced
across many cultures for thousands of years. The Ancient Hindu texts
reveal this was practiced 6,000 years ago with the burning of incense.
Smoke purification was performed in Egypt, with the burning of aromatic
resins for religious ceremonies. It was practiced in Babylonia, Greece,
Rome, Japan, Tibet, China, among the ancient Hebrews, and among
indigenous tribal cultures around the world, with the Native Tribes of
North America being only a portion. Catholic and Orthodox Christianity,
which are an amalgam of pagan beliefs and practices, use incense in
religious Cremonies, adapted from the pagan rituals popular when the
Christian theocracy was legalized by the pagan-turned-Christian, Roman
Emperor Constantine, in 325 AD.

So the use of smoke to purify
in a spiritual way is not exclusive to the Native American tradition,
although we have them to thank for the wonderful and deeply spiritual
practice of burning sage and other sacred plants as a purification
practice. This tradition is a very beautiful gift and the most effective
method commonly used in spiritual cleansing ceremonies today.

How it Works to Cleanse and Purify:

Smudging is an intrinsic part of shamanism, the world’s oldest
medicine. Shamans recognize that every form of life on this planet has a
spiritual purpose and a sacred consciousness. They know that plants
have invaluable healing properties. Human animals, as it turns out, are
not the top rung of creation’s ladder even though we think we are
because we have big brains and walk on two feet. All beings, whether
plant, animal, or mineral are divine and have sacred right to life; all
have something to offer to the manifest “other.”

To approach a
smudging ritual and to be effective in cleansing away negative energy,
one must be reverent of the plant being used and even the energies being
cleansed. All energy is divine at its core, whether Light or Dark.
Respect for all life is essential to any smudging that you undertake. If
you cannot feel reverent about this sacred practice, don’t do it. Find
someone who is spiritually qualified and energetically prepared to do it
for you.

Although many different plants can be used for
smudging, indigenous American tribes consider four plants to be
especially sacred: sage, sweetgrass, tobacco, and cedar. Each plant is
considered to have a special function and this can vary by tribe and
tradition. While sage is used for purification, sweetgrass is used to
bring in positive energies, and its smoke is considered to carry prayers
to the Creator.When to Use Smudge

-If you are feeling
down, negative, stuck, or in a spiritual low place, smudging is an
excellent way to change things for the better.

-When your
house, your property, or any place or space has been exposed to heavy
and negative energies, or painful experiences and even illness, they
should be cleansed with smudge.

-When you move into a new location, it should be smudged to cleanse the psychic imprints of previous occupants.

-If you feel the presence of bad energy in your living quarters, or if a
solitary room makes you feel bad or uneasy by being in there, it’s time
to smudge.

-If you want to create a protective barrier against
outside negative influences, such as neighborhood issues, it’s time to
smudge.

-If you want to make your prayers stronger and if you want to feel more connected to Spirit, it’s time to smudge.

-If your vehicle has been in a fender-bender or you’ve had a close call
in your car, smudge it, inside and out, to remove negative energetic
imprints that can attract more negative experiences.

-You should smudge to clean yourself and your space before engaging in any psychic contact or spiritual ceremony.

-You can smudge anytime just to connect to a state of spiritual clarity
and harmony! Remember, you “clear the air” in your life with the help
of sacred smoke!

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Source: myspiritcare.com

How?Important: smudging is the safe/contained burning of
the dried sage, cedar, sweetgrass or other plant material so that the
cleansing smoke is released, active flames are discouraged, once lit you
can blow out the flames and embers will continue to release smoke in a
good way - You can use a abalone shell, clay saucers, fireproof glass or other ceramic materials more
appropriate for containing burning material. You clear with sage using a feather which represents air, the shell
represents water, sage represents Earth and the burning itself
represents fire. Traditionally, you would begin by opening a window or
door in each room and begin there. This is also where you will end. This
is done in each room walking clockwise. With the feather you wave the
smoke gently affirming your intentions of cleansing that space leaving
only positive energy. We leave a window or door open because the
healing properties of the sacred smoke collect and transmute the
positive ions and the ions get dispersed into the fresh air . Its what
happens during a thunder and lightening storm where the negative ions
leave the atmosphere cleansed and refreshed. Make sure to put it all
out afterwards - dip in water, or carefully crush out the embers to
make sure all the embers are extinguished. -This is a powerful
tool to be used wisely and for the good of All Beings!

Smudging yourself
Buy sage or gather sage & dry it out. If you can go outside, the best is to be on bare feet to connect to Earth,
grounding oneself. Remove all metal jewels from your body
because it can affect the energy. You can use an
(eagle) feather to bring sage smoke towards your eyes, ears, mouth, hands
and overall whole body, you can also smudge your feet and back to remove
energy. Feel what is needed. Ask Great Spirit to be cleansed and purified from everything that is no longer needed. Take a moment to come at peace and to thankthespiritof the plant. Fill your heart with gratitude.

Sacred sage and other wonderful herbs are
Earth Mother’s gift, and once you understand how important a tool they
are in your own spiritual welfare you will never be without a supply on
hand. They are a fundamental part of your spiritual first-aid kit, given
by Creation to heal wounds upon the Soul.

16
comments:

from the native teachers I have encountered sage is always to bring positive energy into a space and seal it in. Cedar was used to clear out the space first. sage is not for clearing ( in the traditions I have learned). Cedar clears nicely. Frankincense is also a very powerful space clearer.. Each tradition is different.

From what I understand and I believe it is your intent that counts, Sage is for clearing negative energies while Sweetgrass and Cedar is to attract the positive energies and to carry the prayers, thoughts, wishes, to the Creator. . . Ahoa

hi - this is very good info but not very much on the how to smudge part... a couple of important points: smudging is the safe/contained burning of the dried sage, cedar, sweetgrass or other plant material so that the cleansing smoke is released, active flames are discouraged, once lit you can blow out the flames and embers will continue to release smoke in a good way - the picture shows an abalone shell being used to hold it, this is often used but personally I don't feel like burning the insides of beautiful abalone shells are the most respectful to the abalone, so I used clay saucers, fireproof glass or other ceramic materials more appropriate for containing burning material. Make sure to put it all out afterwards - dip in water, or carefully crush out the embers to make sure all the embers are extinguished. Also, very importantly, my teachers have stressed the need (and I have found this to feel and be true) to make sure a door or window open when you smudge in an enclosed space because the smudge WILL disperse bad energies, sometimes very powerfully and they need a place to go - I have heard stories of windows being broken/blown out when a door or window to the outside was not left ajar! Thank you for this article on the reasons for smudging and for adding this important additional information. This is a powerful tool to be used wisely and for the good of all beings!

I usually gather sage & dry it out... Out of respect for the culture, I offer tabacco when I pick it from Mother Earth & say a quick prayer of a thanks, & I wear a long skirt to connect to Earth, grounding oneself... After a few days, I remove the sage off of the stems that it grew on, to smudge, I remove all metal jewels from my body because it can affect the energy, then I roll a small handful of sage leaves into a ball, & use a match to light, once lit, I can use an eagle feather to bring sage smoke towards my eyes, ears, mouth, hands & overall whole body, some will smudge feet & back to remove energy... I ask Creator to cleanse each part through a prayer... It's simple.. Bless me this day to see good things in a person, hear good things, say good things, do good things so that I will walk with others in a good way... Once smudge is conducted you save ashes & bury them or put on North side of a tree. The 3 other medicines sweetgrass is in a braid form, cedar can be removed from branches or made into a wand by wrapping into a long thin shape wrapped with thread tabacco can be thrown into a fire or added it shell, cedar is a womens medicine & can be used when needed or daily, however, other medicines should not be used during moon time, because body is cleansing self naturally & women are very powerful during this time... Hope this was useful, blessings~@

You clear with sage using a feather which represents air.. the shell represents water, sage represents earth and the burning itself represents fire. Traditionally, you would begin by opening a window or door in each room and begin there. This is also where you will end. This is done in each room walking clockwise. With the feather you wave the smoke gently affirming your intentions of cleansing that space leaving only positive energy. We leave a window or door open because the healing properties of the sacred smoke collect and transmute the positive ions and the ions get dispersed into the fresh air . Its what happens during a thunder and lightening storm where the negative ions leave the atmosphere cleansed and refreshed. I hope this helped

this is a great post really detailed. Just came across your blog via facebook it's great love all the wonderful information. If you would like to visit me back I'm at http://www.astartemoonblog.com/, blessings, Alison

I really wish I did this for all the houses I have lived in. I've felt terrible energies that have made me cry, and worse have oppressed me. I'm not sure how to start and have the right reverent spiritual energy.